Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy must be so careful with the way he speaks about certain schemes that are in place to help people. There is a risk of people undermining genuine supports that can help people insofar as they may not take up a HAP offer and find themselves in emergency accommodation when they could have been in a rented home. I have met many people who have been badly affected by this crisis. HAP has not worked for some people but more than 40,000 tenancies have been created under the scheme, with 17,000 created last year. HAP is working for tens of thousands of people and it is a good support. It does not always work and, as in the private rental sector, not every tenancy will work out, but for the vast majority of people who are able to rent, it works for them.

We face challenges because there is not enough rental stock or enough time being given to people when a notice to quit is served. There are issues around rent transparency and greater enforcement of RPZs. We are trying to address those in the upcoming Bill and adding them to what we have done to try to strengthen and mature our rental sector. HAP must continue until we build more homes and it is working for people. The placefinder model is working for people and the uplifts are working. There are 20% and 50% levels for homeless HAP, along with a deposit and the first two months of rent; these supports are real and they are making a difference for tens of thousands of people.